Hay-press.



PATBNTED OCT. 10, 1905.

A. E. SKADDEN.

HAY PRESS.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 3, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witnesses No. 801,343. PATENTED 001-10, 1905. A.E.SKADDEN.

HAY PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED j'ULY 3, 1005.

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ARTHUR E. SKADDEN, OF BELLEVUE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE OHIO OULTIVATORCOMPANY, OF BELLEVUE, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

HAY-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

T all 107mm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR E. SKADDEN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Bellevue, in the county ofHuron and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Hay-Presses, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. This inventionrelates to hay-presses, and has for its object to provide an automaticmechanism for placing in position between the bales of hay thedivision-blocks which are used to separate said bales.

More specifically, the object of my invention in its preferred form isto provide a mechanism to accomplish this result which will be normallyinoperative, but which may be connected with the power-operatedmechanism of the press at any time at the will of the operator by themere pressure of his foot and when so connected will be actuated by saidpower mechanism in such a way as to place the division-block inposition, the parts then returning automatically to their originalposition ready to receive and deliver another division-block andremaining inoperative until again connected with the power actuatedmechanism of the press.

To these ends my invention consists in certain novel features, which Iwill now proceed to describe and will then particularly point out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of ahay-press of approved construction having applied thereto one embodimentof my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the central portion of thesame, a portion of the deck being broken away to show theunderlyingconstruction. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on theline of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, the deckbeing partly broken away. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional viewthrough the division-board holder and its support, a division-boardbeing shown in position therein, the same being in section upon a linecorresponding with the line 3 y of Fig. 3 and looking in the directionof the arrows. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of a part of what isshown in Fig. 1, portions of the mechanism being broken away to show theconstruction lying beyond the same. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional viewtaken on the line .2 2 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of thearrows, showing the division-board holder and. its support ingmechanism, the same being shown in the position which they assume duringthe placing or delivery of a division-board and the actuating mechanismbeing omitted in order to more clearly show the-construction. Fig. 7 isa detail perspective view of the shifting bar, its operating-lever, andthe foot-pieces or treadles where by said bar is actuated. Fig. 8 is adetail perspective view of the guide for the actuating-rod. Fig. 9 is adetail plan view of the actuating head or plate carried by said roddetached, and Fig. 10 is a detail cross-sectional view of the vibratinglever or arm.

Referring to said drawings, 1 indicates the frame of the machine, havingthe usual presschamber or baling-cham ber 2, with its delivery extension3, in which the bales are tied, and feeding-hopper 4, surrounded by theplatform 5, on which platform stands the operator, who delivers the hayinto the feeding hopper.

' Since the press may present either of its sides to the hay-supply, theplatform extends on each side of the hopper, so that the operator maytake a station on either side of the machine. 6 indicates the plunger ortraverser, driven by means of a pitman 7 from the crankpin connectingthe double gears 8, which latter are driven from any suitable source ofpower through the medium of the gearing 9 shown. 10 indicates the rammeror feeder, connected to the pitman 7 and so actuated as to descend intothe feeding-hopper and press-chamber when the plunger or traverser 6 iswithdrawn. All of these parts may be of any approved construction, thatshown being chosen solely for the purpose of illustration.

Referring now more particularly to the features which constitute mypresent invention, 11 indicates as a whole the block-holder, the samecomprising two parallel grooved guideways or holders 12, connected bycross-pieces 13 and adapted to receive and guide between them adivision-block 14. These division blocks, of which any suitable numberis employed, may be of any approved construction and are provided withgrooves 15, extending transversely across both of their faces, saidgrooves being primarily for the purpose of permitting the introductionand passage between the bales of the ties whereby the bales are securedafter their formation. The normal position of the block-holder is thehorizontal position shown inall of the figures ex cept Fig. 6; but saidblock-holder is adapted to be tilted into the upright position shown inFig. 6, and in order to retain the divisionblock in its holder when thelatter is in said upright position until the proper moment for thedelivery of said blocks into the balingchamber 1 provide the guides 12with detentsprings 16, secured, preferably, to their upper sides at oneend and having their other ends bent downward, as shown at 17, andpassing through apertures 18 in the tops of the guides, so as to engageone of the grooves of the block 14, and thereby hold said block againstaccidental displacement and prevent it from dropping out of the holderprematurely when the latter is upright.

The holder is connected, by means of arms 19, to a rock-shaft 20,mounted in bearings 21 on the frame 1. The rock-shaft has one endthereof extended beyond its bearing 21, and said extended end hassecured thereon an actuating-arm 22. In the present instance the spacebetween the rock-shaft and platform 5 is shown as comparatively smallfor compactness sake, and the platform is therefore shown as providedwith a slot 23 to accommodate the free end of the guiding-arm 22. Thedeck 5 is provided with. slots 24, through which the arms 19 pass, andthe rear wall of the hopper, shown in the present instance as formed byan inclined guard'plate 25, is also slotted, as shown at 26, for thepassage of said arms 19. At the rear of the platform there is provided araised support 27, on which the rear or upper end of the boardholderrests when in its normal or horizontal position.

hen the board-holder, with a divisionboard therein, is in the uprightposition hereinbefore referred to, it stands within the hopper in asubstantially vertical position, with the division-board in the path ofthe feeder or rammer 10, which latter may be provided with a projection28, so constructed and arranged as to engage the upper edge of the boardand force the same downward into the bailing-chamber to the positionwhich it is desired to give it. My invention comprises an actuatingmechanism driven from the poweractuated mechanism of the press andadapted to be connected at the will of the operator to the board-holder,so as to move the same from its horizontal to its vertical position, soas to cause the delivery of a division-board at the desired time andplace. This mechanism I will now proceed to describe.

The actuating mechanism may derive its motion from any of thepower-driven parts of the press; butI prefer the construction shown, inwhich the plunger or traverser 6 is employed for this purpose. 29indicates a lever pivoted to the frame 1 at 30, said lever carrying atits upper end a roller 31, which travels in a cam-groove in the side ofthe plunger. The cam-groove is preferably covered by a plate 33, havinga corresponding cam-slot 34 therein of less width than the cam-grooveand roller, so as to hold this latter in place in the groove. The lever29 is preferably extensible for the purpose of adjusting its length toaccommodate the wear of the plunger. Said plunger becomes worn on itsunderside from use, thereby bringing the cam-groove therein closer tothe pivotal axis of the lever, and in order to maintain the properangular relations of the lever throughout the movement of the plunger 1have provided means for shortening the same to compensate for this wear.To this end the body portion 29 of the lever receives an adjustableextension 35 and is slotted, as shown at 36, to receive a clampingbolt37, by means of which the two parts are clamped together afteradjustment. Preferably the body 29 is grooved longitudinally to formguide-flanges 38, which maintain the extension in alinement with thesaid body. By reason of this construction the lever 29 may bereadilyshortened as the wear of the plunger may require. To the free end of thelever 29 there is pivoted at 39 the forward end of an actuating-rod 40,which extends upward and rearward toward the rock-shaft 20, on which theholder is mounted, its rear end being provided with an actuating head orplate 41, which slides horizontally in a. guide 42, composed of abracket 43, secured to the top rail of the frame 1 and carrying tworollers 44, between which the head 41 is guided, so as to preventvertical movement thereof. The head 41 is provided at one end with anarm or finger 45, in the path of which the actuatingarm 22 lies, so thatwhen said actuating-arm is moved rearward said finger 45 will engage thearm 22 in case the holder is in its upright or vertical position andwill so turn the rockshaft 20 as to throw the holder back intohorizontal position upon its support27. Thehead 41 is further providedwith a shoulder or engaging surface 46, terminating in a lockingprojection 47. The actuating-rod and its head are capable of lateralmotion, the guide 42 being of a width suflicient to permit such motionand said rod and head being normally held outward or away from the arm22, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the actuating-head is free to move backand forth without its engaging surface 46 coming into contact with saidarm 22. The maintaining of the actuating-head in this path is effectedin the pres ent instance by the inherent resilience of the actuating-rod40; but it may obviously be effected in other waysas, for instance, by aseparate spring or springs. This constitutes the inoperative position ofthe actuating parts, during which the actuating-rod and its head maymove forward and back without in any way affecting the holder when thelatter is in its normal or horizontal position, its only effect when inthis position being to return the holder to its horizontal position ifit has been displaced therefrom. I provide means whereby theactuating-rod and its head may be shifted laterally into a position suchthat its engaging surface et6 may be brought into contact with the arm22 during the forward movement of these parts. This mechanism consistsof a shiftingbar 48, extending transversely of the machine immediatelybelow the head 41 and provided with a shoulder 49, which bears againstthe outer edge of said head. This shifting bar is mounted at each endupon a pivot 50, connecting the upper ends of two links 51, secured on ashaft 52, which is mounted in brackets 53 on the under side of theplatform 5, a pair of these brackets being located at each side of themachine. One link or arm 51 of each pair is provided with a right-angledextension 54, constituting said parts, in effect, a bell-crank lever, tothe free end of which is pivotally connected a push-rod 55, extendedupward through an aperture in the deck and provided at its upper endwith a foot-piece or treadle 56. There are thus provided two of thesepush-rods and foot-pieces, one located on each side of the platform.They are held normally raised by the lateral pressure of theactuatingrod head against the shoulder 49. Downward pressure upon eitherof them will move the shifting bar in the direction of its length andtransversely of the machine, and the shoulder 49 will move theactuating-head 41 inward until its projection 17 travels in a path lyinginside of the arm 22, its contact-surface 46 traveling in a path such asto engage said arm. The parts being held in this position by the foot ofthe operator until the rearward movement of the head causes the engagingsurface 46 to come into contact with the arm 22, the projection I willhold the parts in this relation, and as the rearward movement of theactuating rod and head continues the rockshaft 20 will be so turned asto bring the blockholder into upright position. This occurs during therearward or outward motion of the plunger or traverser after the hay inthe pressing-chamber has been pressed and before the feeder or rammerhas descended sufficiently to cause it to engage the block. As thefeederor rammer continues to descend it finally engages the block andreleasing the detents 16, which yield from their own resili ence, forcesthe block down into position within the pressing-chamber. Upon thereturn or forward stroke of the actuating-head the arm as will returnthe holder to its horizontal position, and said head will move forwardafter the arm 22 has ceased to move until the projection et'? passesclear of said arm, whereupon the actuating-head will return to itsnormal path of movement and the holder will not be operated again untilone or the other of the foot-pieces is depressed.

It will be seen that the labor of swinging the holder into and out ofposition is performed entirely by the power which operates the it isdesired to insert a division-block. Al-

though not essential, it is preferred that the shifting mechanism beoperated by foot in'the manner described, since it leaves the operatorshands free for any other effective work, such as the supplying of hay tothe feedinghopper. It will also be noted that it is only necessary tomomentarily depress one of the foot-pieces, it being only necessary tohold the same down for a sufiicient length of time during the rearwardmotion of the actuatinghead to cause the same to interlock with theactuating-arm, whereupon said parts will remain interlocked as long asis necessary to effect the desired movement of the parts and willautomatically disengage themselves at the proper time.

It will be understood, of course, that a sec ond operator ties the baleswhile in the baling-chamber, the division-boards facilitating thisoperation in the manner already referred to. This second operator afterthe bales and boards are discharged from the machine successively placesthe boards in the holder as they are needed.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself strictly to theprecise details of construction hereinbefore described, and shown in theaccompanying drawings, as it is obvious that these details may bemodified without departing from the principle of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a hay-press, the combination, with a press-chamber, acompressing-plunger and a feeder alternately entering and withdrawingfrom said chamber, and power-driven mechanism for actuating said plungerand feeder, of a division-board holder movable into and out of the pathof the feeder, actuating mechanism for said holder connected with thepower-driven mechanism of the press and normally disconnected from theholder, and means controlled by the operator for connecting saidactuating mechanism with said holder to move the same into the path ofthe feeder, substantially described.

2. In a hay-press, the combination, with a press-chamber, acompressing-plunger and a feeder alternately entering and withdrawingfrom said chamber, and power-driven mech anism for actuating saidplunger and feeder, of a division-board holder located normally out ofthe path of the feeder and movable into said path, actuating mechanismfor said holder connected with the power-driven mechanism of the pressand normally disconnected from the holder, and means controlled by theoperator for connecting said actuating mechanism with said holder tomove the same into the path of the feeder, said actuating mechanism alsoserving to return the holder to its normal position, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a hay-press, the combination, with a press-chamber, acompressing-plunger and a feeder alternately entering and withdrawingfrom said chamber, and power-driven mechanism for actuating said plungerand feeder,

of a division-board holder movable into and out of the path of thefeeder, actuating mechanism for said holder normally connected with thepower-driven mechanism of the press and normally disconnected from theholder, means controlled by the operator for connecting said actuatingmechanism with said holder to move the same into the path of the feeder,said actuating mechanism serving also to return said holder to itsoriginal position, and means for automatically disconnecting saidactuating mechanism and holder after such return of the holder,substantially as described.

4. In a hay-press, the combination, with a press-chamber, acompressing-plunger and a feeder alternately entering and withdrawingfrom said chamber, and power-driven mechanism for actuating said plungerand feeder, of a division-board holder movable into and out of the pathof the feeder, actuating mechanism for said holder connected with thepowerdriven mechanism of the press and normally disconnected from theholder, and means controlled by the operator for connecting saidactuating mechanism with said holder to move the same into the path ofthe feeder, said controlling means comprising duplicate controllingdevices located on both sides of the machine, whereby the holder may becontrolled from either side of the machine, substantially as described.

5. In a hay-press, the combination, with a press-chamber, acompressing-plunger and a feeder alternately entering and withdrawingfrom said chamber, and power-driven mecl anism for actuating saidplunger and feeder, of a division-board holder movable into and out ofthe path of the feeder, actuating mechanism for said holder connectedwith the power-driven m chanism of the press and normally disconnectedfrom the holder, and means controlled by the operator for connectingsaid actuating mechanism with said holder to move the same into the pathof the feeder, said controlling means comprising foot-plates located onboth sides of the machine-platform, whereby the holder may be controlledby the operators foot from either side of the machine, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a hay-press, the combination, with a press-chamber, acompressing-plunger and a feeder alternately entering and witl'idrawingfrom said chamber, and power-driven mechanism for actuating said plungerand feeder,

out of the path of the feeder, pivotally mounted adjacent to thereceiving-mouth of the press-chamber and having an actuating-arm, anactuating-rod connected with the powerdriven press mechanism so as to bereciprocated thereby and having an actuating-head adapted to engage theactuatingarm and traveling normally in a path adjacent to said arm,means controlled by the operator for moving said actuating-rod and headlaterally to engage said arm, and means for automaticall y disengagingsaid parts at the end of each complete effective movementthereof,substan tially as described.

7. In a hay-press, the combination, with a press-chamber, acompressingplunger and a feeder alternately entering and withdrawingfrom said chamber, and power-driven mechanism for actuating said plungerand feeder, of a division-board holder pivotally mounted adjacent to thereceiving-mouth of the presschamber and having an actuating-arm movingin unison therewith, an actuating-rod connected with and reciprocated bythe power driven mechanism of the press and having an actuating-headadapted to engage said actuating-arm and traveling normally in a pathadjacent thereto, a shifting-bar engaging said head to move the samelaterally to engage the actuating-arm, and operating means whereby theoperator may actuate said shifting-bar, substantially as described.

8. In a hay-press, the combination, with a press-chamber, acompressing-plunger and a feeder alternately entering and withdrawingfrom said chamber, and power-driven mechanism for actuating said plungerand feeder, of a division-board holder pivotally mounted adjacent to thereceiving-mouth of the presschamber and having an actuating-arm movingin unison therewith, an actuating-rod connected with and reciprocated bythe powerdriven mechanism of the press and having an actuating-headadapted to engage said actuating-arm and traveling normally in a pathadjacent thereto, a shifting-bar engaging said head to move the samelaterally to engage the actuating-arm, and operating means whereby theoperator may actuate said shiftingbar, said operating means beinglocated in duplicate on both sides of the machine, substantially asdescribed.

9. In a hay-press, mechanism for operating a division-board holder,comprising a pivotally-mounted holder having an actuating-arm in unisonwith which it moves, an actuatingplate reciprocated by the powermechanism of the press, and means for shifting said actuating-platelaterally to vary its path of travel, said plate having a linger toengage the actuating-arm in one direction, and having an engagingsurface adapted to engage the actuating-arm in the opposite directionwhen the plate is shifted from its normal of a division-board holdermovable into and path, substantially as described.

TOO

10. In a hay-press, mechanism for operating a division-board holder,comprising a pivotally-mounted holder having an actuating-arm in unisonwith which it moves, an actuatingplate reciprocated by the powermechanism of the press, and means for shifting said actuating-platelaterally to vary its path of travel, said plate having a linger toengage the actuating-arm in one direction, and having an engagingsurface adapted to engage the actuating-arm in the opposite directionwhen the plate is shifted from its normal path, said engaging platebeing spring-actuated to causeit to tend to return to its normal path,said engaging surface being provided with a locking projection to holdthe parts in engagement until said projection passes clear of theactuating-arm on the return stroke of the plate, substantially asdescribed.

11. In a hay-press,mechanism for actuating a division-block holder,comprising a pivotally-mounted holder having an actuating-arm with whichit moves in unison, a power-driven actuating-rodreciprocating normallyat one side of the actuating-arm and having an actuating-head adapted toengage the same, and a shifting-bar extending across the machine andhaving a shoulder to engage said actuatingplate to shift the samelaterally, said shiftingbar being provided with actuating bell-cranklevers and push-rods connected therewith at each end on both sides ofthe machine, substantially as described.

12. In a hay-press, a frame provided with a press-chamber, afeeding-hopper, and a deck surrounding said feeding-hopper, said deckand hopper being slotted as described, in combination with a rock-shaftmounted on said frame below the deck, a division-block holder supportedby arms extending through said 4 slots, and means for actuating saidrock-shaft to swing the holder from a horizontal position above the deckinto an upright position in the receiving-hopper, substantially asdescribed.

13. In a hay-press, the combination, With a press-chamber, acompressing-plunger and a feeder alternately entering and Withdrawingfrom said chamber, and power-driven mechanism for actuating said plungerand feeder, of a division-board holder movable into and out of the pathof the feeder, and actuating mechanism for said holder adapted to beconnected therewith and disconnected therefrom at the will of theoperator, said actuating mechanism comprising a cam-slot in the plunger,a vibrating arm having its free end engaged with said slot, and anactuating-rod pivoted to said vibrating arm at one end and suitablyguided at its other end to engage and actuate the holder, substantiallyas described.

1a. In a hay-press, the combination, with a compressing-plunger having acam-slot, a division-block holder, and an actuating-rod therefor, of avibrating arm pivoted on the pressframe, having the actuating-rodconnected thereto, and provided with a part engaging the cam-slot, andmeans for adjusting the distance between said engaging part and thepivot of the vibrating arm to compensate for the Wear of the plunger,substantially as described.

In testimony WhereofI aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR E. SKADDEN.

WVitnesses:

D. V. BOOKER, C. W. HALLoWAY.

